It's time to wrap up the first half of the tournament.
The standings change after each race. That's why it's so unpredictable to see who wins.
Well, it's time to see who gets eliminated.
Disclaimer: Sega owns Sonic and co. OCs belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 17: Surviving in the White Cave
It was time for the final Survival Race in the first half of the tournament. The standings looked like this: Jet: 66, Rector 66, Wave 63, Sonic 63, Armand 60, Galeon 57, Basil 56, Raine 55, Rampage 51, Knuckles 47, Howl (46), Axel (44), Storm (42), Tails (42), and Nightscream (40). It was intense. Although the distance between first and last was 26 points, the real wonder was who was going to be eliminated after the survival race.
"Man, this is intense." Sonic said.
"The first half of the tournament is about to end, and 5 racers go bye-bye after the Survival Race today. I'm already nervous." Wave added.
"Well, you're not one of the 5 that's in danger of being eliminated." Howl smarted off.
"Howl, calm down. I don't like it either. But we have to try." Tails told him.
"Try! You're kidding. I might as well be out of this tournament anyway. I only have 40 points." Nightscream complained.
"Calm down. You'll have a fair chance of recovering." Gerald said as he came up. "Look, it's about time for the survival race. The new track has been opened up due to the snowfall, and everyone's ready to see who moves on and who doesn't, so get to the starting block or be disqualified right here and now."
Well, that shut them up.
The racers headed to the starting block, where Gerald was ready with the announcements.
"Alright, everyone, welcome to the White Cave race track. The final Survival Race of the first half of the tournament will take place right here. Standard Survival Race rules apply, so I don't have to go over them. Remember, you have to score 5 points in 5 minutes to win. As you all know, Howl, Axel, Storm, Tails, and Nightscream are in danger of being eliminated, so we won't be matching up the standard competitors. Instead, we'll send out one or two of them with a few others, and hope they will rebound. Also, to give them a better chance, whatever amount of points they gain to add to their score, we'll double what they earn. If anybody earns bonus points, those will be doubled as well. For the best chance of moving on, your point total at the end of today needs to be higher than Knuckles's final score for the day. Knuckles will race in the last race. His score is 47 points, so if you don't surpass that score in your race, you're out. If you equal that score, you're out since Knuckles will earn at least one point. If your score matches his after his race, you'll race against him in a special race. Now that I'm done, let's announce the 5 racers that will take part in the first of three races."
The randomizer activated, and all 15 racers were on it. If a racer wasn't racing, their picture would black out. It wasn't long before the first 5 were left lit up.
"And the first 5 racers will be…Armand, Howl, Rampage, Wave, and Tails."
The 5 racers took places at the starting line. Gerald headed to the announcer's booth.
3…2…1…
GO!
Tails, more determined to stay in, got off of the line first, followed by Howl, Rampage, Armand, and Wave, in that order. The course started with a straightaway with a few pillars blocking the path, and the gate was up ahead. Past it was the emerald, and after that was the first ramp. Tails picked up the emerald first, and launched off of the ramp. There was a small outcrop of land above the half-pipe structure, and Tails was headed for it. The others weren't so lucky. They had to take the low road.
The next gate, which would be the first one that they could score in, was ahead. On the left would be a speed rail, but it wasn't a normal race, so there wasn't one. Tails passed through the first gate, earning him his first point. The half-pipe turned into a full one, and there were some rocks inside, so they had to swerve in and out to avoid them. There would have been a flight launcher if this was a standard race, and it would have led a flying type to one of the two vine structures up above. There were a few air capsules, then another gate. Tails passed through it and earned his second point. Then Rampage took the emerald by bumping into Tails.
They were headed into the centipede nest. As they were carried up, they saw that this part was nearly the same as the Green Cave track. As they exited, they went on the curve that led to the inner chamber. On the right, there would have been a speed rail and a flight launch pad. The main track was a straightaway. And there was a gate right in front of them. Rampage passed through it and earned his first point. Then there was a small slalom, then a ramp that led to a sharp turn. A gate was located just before the sharp turn. Rampage passed through it to earn his second point. Would it be enough?
He would have to find out later, as Armand took the emerald from him, launched off of the ramp after the turn, landed in the spider web, which launched him above the forest, and sped down a tunnel to begin lap two. Armand handled his gear with skill, passing through the first gate after the start line, then launching off of the ramp, and then passed through the next gate. Armand was now dominating. He sped through the cave, passed through the next gate before the centipede nest, and earned his third point. After the centipede nest, he sped through the inner cave, earning his fourth point, and then launched off of the ramp up ahead, and scored his final point.
"Armand wins the first Survival Race of three." Gerald announced.
"Alright. I won." Armand said.
The results were like this: Armand (+5), Tails (+8) (4 for coming in second place, and that was doubled.), Rampage (+4), and Howl earned two points (remember, doubled since he was in danger) since he didn't get a goal, and Wave got one point. Their standings were: Armand (65), Tails (50), Rampage (55), Howl (48), and Wave (64).
Howl was kind of nervous, since he was only one point ahead of Knuckles. If Knuckles scored two or more, Howl would be out. Tails wasn't as nervous, but was nervous nonetheless, as if Knuckles gained 4 or 5 points, Tails would be out. Knuckles would race in the last race.
"Well, it looks like Howl and Tails are safe for now. But how long will that last? Well, here's how the next race will go. We will send the other three in danger of being knocked out into the next race, with a couple of others. This will make it fair, as those in danger won't be going up against Knuckles. Remember, if those of you in danger don't surpass 47 points, you lose. Now, I want Nightscream, Axel, and Storm to report to the starting block."
The randomizer started up. Only two more would be lit up since the three in danger were already in. It soon stopped, and Sonic and Jet were up next.
"Sonic and Jet will face off against the three in danger of losing. Report to the starting block."
They did so, and waited for the electric gate to disappear.
3…2…1…
GO!
Axel was the first one out, followed by Nightscream and Storm, then Sonic and Jet. Axel got the emerald first, then launched off of the ramp. He quickly gained a point before having the emerald stolen by Storm. Through the cave, Storm picked up his first point before the centipede nest. As they exited the nest, Storm saw the others catching up. It wasn't long before Nightscream took the emerald for himself. He sped through the gate, and then Storm took the emerald. They jumped off of the ramp, and Storm went through the gate, earning his next point. Nightscream took the emerald back shortly afterward, sped through the tunnel after the spider web, shot through the starting straightaway, sped through the next gate, launched off of the ramp, shot through the gate afterwards, sped through the cave, and sped through the final gate. Sonic and Jet didn't get even one goal.
"Unbelievable! Nightscream wins the race." Gerald announced.
"Yes! I won!" Nightscream said.
The results ended up like this: Nightscream (+10), Storm (+8), Axel (+6), and Sonic and Jet both earned one point. Their standings were: Nightscream (50), Storm (50), Axel (50), Sonic (64), and Jet (67).
Nightscream, Storm, and Axel were all on edge. Knuckles would be competing in the next race, and if he earned 4 points, his total would be 51, and that would take out Howl, Nightscream, Tails, Storm, and Axel, all in one shot.
"Well, with that, I'd say it's time to wrap this up. Everyone's eyes will be on Knuckles, since how many points he scores determines who gets eliminated. It's time for Basil, Galeon, Rector, Raine, and Knuckles to race."
Basil, Galeon, Rector, Raine, and Knuckles headed to the starting line.
3…2…1…
GO!
The race started. Knuckles picked up the emerald first, before the first ramp. He launched off of it, sped through the first gate, and earned his first point before Basil stole the emerald. Basil sped ahead, through the cave, and passed through the next gate, earning him his first point. Knuckles took the emerald back before the centipede nest. After the nest, Knuckles passed through the next gate before Basil took the emerald. Rector, Raine, and Galeon didn't need to try to win, since their scores wouldn't matter at this point. Basil sped through the gate after the ramp, gaining him his second point. He launched off of the ramp, landed in the spider web, shot through the tunnel, and sped across the start line. He passed through the next gate, gaining his third point. He launched off of the ramp, and went through the gate, gaining his fourth point. Speeding through the cave, he went through the final gate and won.
"Basil wins the Survival Race." Gerald announced.
"That wraps this up." Basil said.
The results: Basil (+5), Knuckles (+4), and Galeon, Rector, and Raine each earned one point. Their standings: Basil (61), Knuckles (51), Galeon (58), Rector (67), and Raine (56).
"And with that, the first half of the tournament is over." Gerald announced. "Now, here are those who got eliminated. First, is Howl the Wolf."
Howl just looked on in unhappiness, but he wasn't mad, because he knew he had raced his best.
"Next, is Nightscream the Falcon."
Nightscream, unlike Howl, flipped out, throwing his board on the ground.
"The next one eliminated, is Axel the Boar."
Axel didn't do anything.
"Next, is Storm the Albatross."
"I WANT A RECOUNT!" Storm demanded.
"Sorry, Storm. And last, is Miles "Tails" Prower."
Tails couldn't believe it. Knuckles had eliminated him, Howl, Nightscream, Storm, and Axel in one race. He looked at Knuckles.
"Knuckles, couldn't you have slipped up a bit, and at least let me go into the next half?" Tails asked.
"I'm sorry, Tails, but that would mean throwing myself out." Knuckles replied.
"Oh well. I suppose that's fair. Good luck in the competition." Tails told him.
Wave walked over to Tails.
"Hey, kiddo, don't worry. You raced your best. There will always be next time."
"Thanks, Wave."
Armand then walked over to them.
"I thought you two hated each other."
"We don't hate each other. We're just rivals, and friends."
Gerald then spoke up.
"And with that, the first half of the tournament is over. All scores will be cleared, and the remaining 10 racers will begin the next half in a Survival Battle with a clean slate. The battle will take place in the Snow Valley arena not far from here. The competitor rules will shift, and point earnings as well. Well, I'm out. Good luck in the competition."
Gerald took his leave, and the racers got back on the airship to head for the Snow Valley arena for the next Survival Battle.
End of Chapter 17.
Howl, Nightscream, Tails, Axel, and Storm have been eliminated. The second half is about to begin. Here are the results for the first half:
Jet: 67
Rector: 67
Armand: 65
Wave: 64
Sonic: 64
Basil: 61
Galeon: 58
Raine: 56
Rampage: 55
Knuckles: 51
Axel: Out (50)
Nightscream: Out (50)
Storm: Out (50)
Tails: Out (50)
Howl: Out (48)
Sorry the races weren't that good. But I liked them, and I'm sure you will (so don't complain to me about that). Well, the second half will begin soon. Keep an eye out.
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